Expanding the Role of Abduction in Mixed Methods Research: Insights From Q Methodology

Abstract

Abduction has the potential to act as a critical philosophical and methodological conduit in mixed methods research (MMR), offering innovative approaches to integrative and iterative research processes. Despite its potential, abductive reasoning in MMR is often framed narrowly, aligned with pragmatism or simplified as a tool for integrating qualitative and quantitative methods. This manuscript argues for a broader conceptualization of abduction in MMR, emphasizing its role beyond integration to enhance methodological innovation. Q methodology, a 90-year-old mixed method intertwining qualitative and quantitative techniques, exemplifies the essential role of abduction throughout, from data collection to interpretation. Drawing on prior literature within Q methodology, this study illustrates how abduction enables deeper insights into human behavior, even amid incomplete or complex data.

Keywords

abduction abductive inference abductive reasoning C.S. Peirce Q methodology

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